You Have to See What This Astronaut Captured in Space, It’s Out of This World!

Astronaut Kimiya Yui has shared a time-lapse video from the International Space Station (ISS). The footage showcases zodiacal light, auroras, and the Pleiades, all seen from low-Earth orbit. Yui released this video to celebrate his 300th cumulative day spent orbiting the Earth.

The video begins with a dramatic display of zodiacal light, followed by shimmering green auroras and the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster. These phenomena are visible from space in a way that would be impossible to capture from the Earth’s surface.

Zodiacal Light: A Night Sky Phenomenon

The video begins with the mesmerizing phenomenon of zodiacal light, a column of light that appears above the horizon at dusk or dawn. This celestial display occurs when sunlight reflects off dust particles scattered in the solar system, creating a faint, glowing band across the sky. Captured from the ISS, this light is seen stretching out above the Earth’s curved horizon, offering a spectacular sight rarely visible from the surface of our planet.

The zodiacal light is most commonly seen in desert regions where the air is clearer, but in space, it is visible with unprecedented clarity. As explained by Space.com, Kimiya Yui‘s video allows viewers to appreciate this natural phenomenon in its full splendor.

“As a token of gratitude for allowing me to have such a precious experience over 300 days, I’d like to introduce a slightly unusual timelapse from the window,” Yui posted on X, sharing the video along with the message.

Auroras Dance Above Earth

As the zodiacal light fades, the video shifts focus to the dancing green auroras in Earth’s upper atmosphere. As explained by NOAA, auroras are caused by the interaction between solar winds and the Earth’s magnetic field, which excites atmospheric particles and creates the colorful light displays seen near the poles.

Yui’s timelapse captures the auroras swirling over the northern latitudes, glowing vividly against the inky blackness of space. The video also showcases the rotation of the ISS’s solar panels, which track the sun.

The Pleiades and the ISS

Towards the end of the timelapse, the seven brightest stars of the Pleiades, also known as the “Seven Sisters,” come into view. This open star cluster, located in the constellation Taurus, is one of the most visible star clusters in the night sky and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye. Yui’s footage presents a stunning perspective of the Pleiades as they descend toward the ISS.

Astronomers have long studied the Pleiades for insights into stellar formation and evolution. The timelapse video taken from a space station orbiting 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth.